“Brilliantly and intensively researched and conveyed with clarity and thoughtfulness, Kirby’s work of high-quality non-fiction busts the whale debate wide open… Reads like a thriller and horrifies like Hannibal Lector.”
-- San Francisco Book Review – FIVE STARS
“Kirby shows that the reality (of orca captivity) is more akin to a circus, in which any benefits are outweighed by the cost to the whale – and sometimes to the keepers.”--Financial Times
“Thorough and disturbing… One of the great books of the summer”
–Columbus Dispatch
“SeaWorld got a firm slap in the form of journalist David Kirby's fascinating and deeply disturbing book.”--Christian Science Monitor
“An outstanding book… very-well written, extremely well documented, and timely.”--Psychology Today
#1 Readers Poll Choice for Summer Books –Wall Street Journal Online
“An informed narrative that strongly suggests that despite their name, only when captured do the mammals become dangerous to humans. Free Willy, indeed.”--New York Daily News
“Kirby has done his homework and does an excellent job of educating the public about orcas in the wild, as well as highlighting the dangers inherent in keeping these highly evolved, intelligent animals in captivity.”
--Examiner.com
“A masterful work.”--Seattle Post Intelligencer
“Eye-opening poolside reading… Death isn't supposed to pop up in environments carefully choreographed for family fun.”--San Francisco Bay Guardian
“A real-life scientific thriller.”--Barnes and Noble
“One of the summer’s most anticipated new releases”-- Apple I-Bookstore
“A new book examining the dark side of keeping killer whales in captivity has slammed SeaWorld for its treatment of the enormous beasts and for massive safety failings which still haunt the world famous marine parks.”--Daily Mail (UK)
“Fascinating, shocking, even infuriating, but ultimately rewarding… Discover the majesty of killer whales, the inherent cruelty of their captivity and the passion of those who fight for their freedom.”--Shelf Aware, Online Book Reviews
“A page-turning book… a disturbing account that will be hard for SeaWorld to transcend… Kirby makes it horrifyingly clear how serious (captivity) can be for human safety and orca well-being.”--Wayne’s Blog, Wayne Pacelle, CEO of The Humane Society of the United States
“Even if you're not an animal nut like me, David Kirby's Death at Sea World is a fascinating book.”--Sam Simon, Co-Creator of The Simpsons and leading animal-rights activist
“An exhilarating journalistic achievement—the reporting is singularly deep and wide, the research enormously meticulous, the storytelling as gripping as in a great novel.”--Talking Animals with Duncan Strauss, WMNF-FM, Tampa
“I was sent a pre-release copy and can’t put it down… Get a copy of this book. It’s about time it was written.”--Fayetteville Observer
“Kirby's knockout format is articulate and mind-blowing. This riveting read is not one that will easily be dismissed.”--Digital Journal
“Lives are at stake here, and Kirby can be trusted to tell the story, having won a passel of awards for his investigative work.” --Library Journal
“Journalist Kirby offers another passionate industry exposé … the narrative goes into high gear with its concluding confrontation.” --Publishers Weekly
“Simply superb… David Kirby has left no stone unturned. He has successfully refuted the arguments put forth by the pro-captivity advocates” –Philosophy Book Review
“Captivity disrupts (orca) behavior in practically every manner. Contrary to marine mammal exhibition industry claims, orca lifespans are significantly shortened in captivity.”-- Animal People Magazine
“I particularly enjoyed this book. It reads very much like a novel to the point when you are staying up later than you should to finish it.”--San Juan Island Update
“The bottom line of these findings is that keeping these magnificent beings in confinement is not a good thing.”--Wild Time Radio TCR-FM (UK
